Taste of India is a small Indian restaurant tucked in the corner of a strip mall behind a Carl’s Jr. on Miramar Road. (Turn left on Commerce Ave. first, then left into the strip mall.)

A few miles down from Miramar’s “Little India” — a section near its intersection with Interstate 15 that has a few Indian grocery stores, restaurants, and a Hindu temple — Taste of India offers excellent food in a buffet style meal.

When you enter the restaurant, you take a seat and let the waiter know your drink requests — the standard soda or iced-teas, as well as Indian beers and Mango Lassi, a rice-based smoothie type drink. Then, you get up, take a plate at the buffet, and load it down.

I can never remember the names for any of the food items, but they’re all good. I’m a fan of the salad, some basmati rice drizzled with the plum sauce, and then a small scoop of everything. They have deep fried vegetables (Samosas) and a tandoori chicken dish that are both amazing; there’s a spinach with cheese dish (Saag Panir) that I love as well.

For dessert they have the two standards — Gulab Jamin — small cheese balls soaked in a rose-honey water sauce, and Kheer — a thin rice pudding with nuts. (Not sure if you’re supposed to eat them together, but that’s the way I like it).

Service is quick and the buffet is cheap. If you’re there on a Friday or a Saturday, there’s a sitar player there who really knows what he’s doing — I don’t know any of the songs but they’re wonderful to listen to.

All in all, an excellent restaurant with great Indian food.